Fruit feeding mechanism



July 9, 1963 s. H. CREED ETAL FRUIT FEEDING MECHANISM 13 Sheets-Sheet 173 o o D o u 0 D o n INVENTORS SHERMAN H.6REED SANDOR OSIMMA BY hat/v14ATTORNEY mug U July 9, 1963 s. H. CREED ETAL FRUIT FEEDING MECHANISM l5Sheets$heet 2 Original Filed Nov. 50, 1956 INVENTORS SHERMAN H. GREEDSANDOR OSIIMMA ATTORNEY y 1963 s. H. CREED ETAL 3,096,869

FRUIT FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed Nov. 30, 1956 13 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTORS SHERMAN H. CREED SANDOR CSIMMA BY W ATTORNEY July 9, 1963 s.H. CREED ETAL FRUIT FEEDING MECHANISM 13 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original FiledNov. 30, 1956 INVENTORS SHERMAN H. CREEID SANDOR CSIMMA Y M 5 /d 71WATTORNEY July 9, 1963 s. H. CREED ETAL FRUIT FEEDING MECHANISM OriginalFiled Nov. 30, 1956 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 f llll l I I l l. l

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fi m-HIP INVENTORS S HE R MAN H. CREED mmN SANDOR CSIMMA BY W 5 ATTORNEYJuly 9, 1963 s. H. CREED ETAL 3,096,859

FRUIT FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed Nov. 30, 1956 15 Sheets-Sheet 6aim @g g \03 INVENTORS SHERMAN H. OREED SANDOR CSIMMA ATTORNEY July 9,1963 s. H. CREED ETAL 3,096,869

FRUIT FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed Nov. 30, 1956 13 Sheets-Sheet 7INVENTORS SHERMAN H. GREED SAN DOR OSIMMA BYW ATTORNEY July 9, 1963 s.H. CREED ETAL 3,096,869

FRUIT FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed Nov. 30, 1956 13 Sheets-Sheet 8INVENTORS SHERMAN H. CREED SANDOR CSIMMA ATTORNEY July 9, 1963 s. H.CREED ETAL FRUIT FEEDING MECHANISM 6 5 9 l o 3 V O N d e l 1 F l a n 1 gi r O INVENTORS S HE R MAN H. GREED SANDOR GSIMMA ATTORNEY July 9, 1963s. H. CREED ETAL 3,096,869

FRUIT FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed Nov. 50, 1956 15 Sheets-Sheet 10241 mvsu'roas SHERMAN mom-:50 22 228 3 smooa csmmA Y i. WW-WLJ.

ATTORNEY July 9, 1963 s. H. CREED ETAL FRUIT FEEDING MECHANISM 15Sheets-Sheet 11 Original Filed Nov. 30, 1956 V I w.

INVENTORS SHERMAN H. CREED SANDOR CSIIMMA BY MM ATTORNEY July 9, 1963 s.H. CREE D ETAL 3,096,859

FRUIT FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed Nov. 30, 1956 13 Sheets-Sheet 12F'IE'L... E2

Y O i 67 352 272 375 I 376 '7 241 [22 I INVENTORS SHERMAN H. CREEDSANDOR OSIMMA ATTORNEY July 9, 1963 s. H. CREED ETAL FRUIT FEEDINGMECHANISM 15 Sheets-Sheet 13 Original Filed Nov. 50, 1956 WVIIU' r/ z iTIE 2EI INVENTORS SHERMAN l-LCREED SANDOR GSIMMA BY M ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent C) 3,096,869 FRUIT FEEDING MECHANISM Sherman H. Creed andSandor Csimma, San Jose, Calif;

This invention pertains to fruit handling machines and more particularlyrelates to a mechanism for feeding fruit to fruit processing devices.

The present application is a division of our pending U. S. applicationfor patent, Serial No. 625,368 filed November 30, 1956, issued April 11,1961 as Patent No. 2,979,093.

An object of this invention is to provide a fruit preparation machinehaving a feed mechanism in which the fruit may be easily and eflicientlypositioned by the operator.

Another object is to provide means or positively seating and centeringfruit in a fruit carrier.

Another object is to provide an improved feed means for a fruitprocessing machine.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of the fruit preparation machine of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a plane view of the machine of FIG. 1, with a portion brokenaway.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of a portion of the operatingmechanism of the machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a perspective of a feed cup used in the feed mechanism of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 is a reduced perspective of the main body portion of the feed cupof FIG. 6 shown removed from the feed cup assembly.

FIG. 8 is a vertical section taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a vertical section taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective of the entire feed mechanism of themachine of FIG. 1, shown as removed from the rest of the machine.

FIG. 11 is a perspective of the upper portion of the feed mechanism ofFIG. 10, said upper portion being removed from the rest of the feedmechanism.

FIG. 12 is a vertical section taken on line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

FIGS. 13l8, inclusive, are side elevations of one of the fruit feedingcups of the feed mechanism of FIG. 10, showing successive operationalpositions of the cup FIG. 19 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectiontaken on line 1919 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 20 is a sectional view taken on line 20-40 of FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 21-21 of FIG.19.

FIG. 22 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of a portion of the mainturret of the machine of FIG. 1 taken in the direction of arrows 22--22of FIG. 19, particularly showing one of the several processing units onthe main turret.

FIG. 23 is a fragmentary perspective of the processing unit shown inFIG. 22, parts being omitted and parts shown in section to fullydisclose the operating mechanism.

FIG. 24 is a fragmentary, enlarged perspective of the stemming tubedrive mechanism of the machine of FIG. 1.

The embodiment of the fruit feeding mechanism of the present inventionchosen for description in the present application is used in a rotarypear processing machine that is indicated generally in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3by the reference numeral 64 and comprises a pear feed mechanism 65, arotary main turret 66 which carries a plurality of peeling, coring andstem-end trimming units 67, and a discharge turret 68 which receiveseach peeled, cored and trimmed pear from the main turret 66 and performssuccessive splitting, seed-cell removing, and blossom-end trimmingoperations prior to depositing the two halves of the pear on a dischargechute 69. The present application concerns the pear feeding mechanism 65and certain parts of the main turret 66. The other mechanism aredisclosed in the above-mentioned pending application to which referencemay be had for a complete disclosure of said other mechanisms.

The feed mechanism 65 of the machine (FIG. 4) comprises eight identicalfeed cups 70a through 7011, inclusive, which are mounted on an endlesschain carrier 71 for movement in a circuitous path in the direction ofarrow A. Pears are dropped, stem end down, into the cups when they areon the side of the feed mechanism 65 that is remote from the turret 66.In FIG. 4 the cup 70a is in open, pear-receiving position and is tiltedapproximately 15 from the vertical and toward the operator. As theloaded cups are carried around the circuitous path, they are closed andare tilted further, as indicated by cup 700 until the axis of the cup issubstantially horizontal, as illustrated by cups 70d, 70e and 70f. Whileeach cup is in the horizontal position, a stemming or coring tube, whichwill be described herematter, is moved into the cup to impale the pearalong its stem-blossom axis. The cup is then opened and the stemmingtube is withdrawn, carrying the pear out of the cup. The cup is thentilted back to the pear receiving position 15 from the vertical as itcompletes its circuit and returns to the pear feeding position.

The feed cups 70a through 70h are identical. Accordingly, a descriptionof cup 70a will fully disclose the structures of all of the cups. Thecup 70a (FIG. 6) comprises a rigid yoke 72 in which a rigid cup bodymember 73 (FIGS. 6 and 7) is pivotally mounted on aligned pins 74 (onlyone pin being shown). The body member 73 has a central, firusto-conicalguide portion 73a (FIGS. 7 and 9) and two partially cylindrical walls73b and 73c that extend upwardly from opposite sides of the upper edgeof the guide portion 73a. A removable, frusto-conica-l insert 75 (FIG.9) is disposed in the guide portion 73a. It will be evident that thesize of the insert may be varied according to the size of the pearsbeing processed. A third wall portion 73d (FIG. 7) projects upwardlybetween the opposed ends of the Walls 73b and 73c to define a pair ofvertical slots 76. Two movable jaws 77 and 78 (FIG. 6) are pivotallymounted on the body member 73. These jaws are identical but areoppositely disposed, each jaw comprising a pair of bent arms 79 (FIG. 9)which are connected by a strap 80. Near their lower edge, the arms 79 ofthe movable jaw 77 are keyed to a shaft 81 which is rotatably journalled at its ends in aligned apertures 82 (FIG. 7) provided in dependinglegs 83 and 84 of the rigid body member 73. Similarly, the arms 79 ofthe jaw 78 are keyed to a shaft 85 which is rotatably supported inaligned apertures 86 in the legs 83 and 84, one aperture only beingshown. At their upper ends, each arm 79 carries a curved pear-grippingplate 87. The plates 87 of the 3 movable jaw 77 extend through an openspace 88 (FIG. 7) between the side edges of the walls 73b and 730, whilethe plates 87 of the movable jaw 78 extend through the vertical slots 76on the opposite side of the body member 73.

The movable jaws 77 and 78 are pivoted relative to each other by anactuator arm 89 (FIG. 9) that has a hub 90 secured to the shaft 81 by aset screw 91. -At one end, the actuator arm 89 carries a cam followerroller 92 and, at the other, it carries a rotatable roller 93 that isdisposed in a socket of a U-shaped member 94 which is secured to theshaft 85. It will be evident that, when the actuator arm 89 is pivotedin a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 9) about the axis of shaft 81, thejaws 77 and 7 8 will be moved away from each other to an open positionsuitable to receive a pear placed therein by the operator.

The actuator arm 89 is pivoted counterclockwise to open the jaws bymeans of a cam, which will be explained presently, and this movement ismade against the resistance of a spring 95 (FIG. 9) which is anchored atone end to a pin 96 projecting from the actuator arm 89 and is anchoredat the other end to a pin 97 projecting from the rigid body member 73.Accordingly, as soon as the follower roller 92 moves out of engagementwith its associated cam, the spring 95 moves the jaws 77 and 78 towardeach other to a closed position wherein an adjustable stud 98, carriedby the strap 80 of the jaw 77, abuts a resilient pad 99 which ispositioned in a recess in the exterior wall of the frusto-conical guideportion 73a of the body member 73.

During a certain portion of the travel of the cup around its circuitouspath, the jaws 77 and 78 are latched in an open position by means of alatch arm 100 (FIG. 8) that is mounted for pivoting movement on a pin101 projecting from the body portion 73. A cam follower roller 103 ismounted for rotation on one end of the latch arm 100, and a Vshapednotch 104 is formed in the other end of the arm 100. A pin 105,projecting from one arm 79 of jaw 77, has a peaked upper portionarranged to engage in the V-shaped notch 104 to lock the jaws 77 and 78in the open position of FIG. 8. A tension spring 108 is connectedbetween the arm 100 and a pin 109 on the body portion 73 to urge the arm100 in a counterclockwise direction about pin 101. Accordingly, when theactuator arm 89 is being cammed to jawopen position, the notch 104 ofthe latch arm '100 is resiliently urged onto the peaked portion of thepin 105 to latch the jaws in open position.

As previously mentioned, as each cup moves around its circuitous path,it is tilted to various positions. This tilting movement is effected bymeans of a cam follower roller 112 (FIG. 8) that is mounted for rotationin a shelf 113 (FIG. 7) that projects laterally from the lower end ofthe leg 84 of the body member 73. An adjustable stud 114 (FIG. 6) ismounted in a tab 115 that is integrally formed on the inner face of oneof the legs of the yoke 72. A capscrew 116 threaded in the upper end ofthe body portion 73, is arranged to engage the top of the stud 114 toarrest the pivoting movement of the cup when the cup reaches ahorizontal position.

The endless chain carrier 71 (FIG. 3) on which the cups are mountedcomprises a plurality of vertical plates 120 (FIG. pivotally mounted onvertical pins 121- Each plate 120 has a pair of trailing hubs 120a whichreceive a trailing pin 121 and a pair of leading hubs 1201) whichreceive a leading pin 121. Two rotatable rollers 122 are mounted ontheupper end of each pin 121 and two rotatable rollers 123. are mounted onthe lower end .of each pin 121. The carrier 71 is supported by ahorizontal plate '125 (FIG. 3) which s secured in fixed position on aplurality of pads 126 projecting upwardly from a flat platform 1127. Theplatform is connected to a generally cylindrical support base 130 by aplurality of vertical webs 131, only one of which is illus trated inFIG. 3. As seen in FIG. 5, the horizontal support plate 125 has agenerally oval shape with circular end portions, and is provided alongits outer edge with a raised track v132 along which a plurality ofrollers .133 ride. Each roller is mounted on a shaft 134 which extendsthrough a spacer collar 135 and through one of the plates 120 of thecarrier 71. A nut 136 is disposed on the threaded end of each shaft 134to lock the roller 133 on the plate. A suflicient number of rollers areprovided to transfer the entire vertical component of the weight of thecarrier 71 and the cups to the lower support plate 125.

Each cup is connected to the carrier 71 by means of a fork 137 (FIG. 10)which is integrally formed at the lower end of the yoke 72 and projectslaterally from the shank of the yoke. Each of the arms 137a and 137k ofthe fork 137 is pivotally mounted on a pin 138 that has an end disposedin a roller 139 which is mounted for rotation on the upper end of one ofthe pins v121 of the carrier. The conveyor pin 121, which is immediatelybehind the pin on which the yoke is mounted, extends upwardly through anopening 140 in the shank of the yoke 72 and is secured therein by asetscrew 141.

An upper support plate 142 (FIG. 3) is mounted directly above thesupport plate 125 and is held in spaced relation thereto by fourvertical spacer tubes 143 (FIGS. 3 and 5). The plates 125 and 142 havethe same configuration and are secured together by bolts 144 whichextend through the plates and through the spacer tubes 143. The platesare also held in spaced relation by two shafts 1-47 and 148 (FIG. 5). Atits lower end, each of the shafts 147 and 148 is secured by a setscrew150 to a hub 151 bolted to the upper surface of the lower support plate125. At its upper end, each of the shafts 147 and 148 is secured by asetscrew 153 (FIG. 10) to a hub 1154 bolted to the upper surface of theupper support plate 142.

As the endless chain carrier 71 travels around the left end (FIG. 10) ofthe elongated, generally oval frame provided by the support plates and142, the upper rollers 122 bear against a circular plate which isdisposed directly below the upper support plate 142 and is slightlylarger in diameter than the circular ends of the plates'125 and 142. Thelower rollers 123 bear against a similar lower circular plate 162. Thecircular plates 160 and 162 are mounted for free rotation on the shaft147 and, accordingly, the chain is carried bodily around the left end ofthe frame on the plates. Similarly, at the right end of the frame therollers 122 and 123 bear against freely rotatable circular plates 164and 165, respectively, which are disposed on the shaft 148.

Each feed cup is moved to its various tilted positions as it travelsaround the upper support plate 142 by means of a fabricated cam track(FIG. 11) which is mounted on the upper plate 142 and which receives theroller 112. The track 170 has a generally straight portion 172 on theoperators side of the feed mechanism. This portion 172 has a U-shapedtransverse cross-section (FIG. 12) with its side walls inclined about 15from the vertical so that the roller 11-2 holds thecup in acorresponding tilted position; After a pear is placed in the cup, thecup is moved toward the right (FIG. 11), as indicated by arrow B, untilthe roller 1'12 engages a twisted cam section 174 where the side alongwhich the roller was moving is turned gradually to an inclined surface,as at 174a, and finally to a substantially horizontal surface at 174b.Thus, as the roller 112 moves around the right hand end of the upperplate 142, the axis of the roller is moved from approximately 15 fromthe vertical to an approximately horizontal position as shown in FIG.16. It will, of course, be evident that the axis of the cup also bemoved to a horizontal position. 'The roller 112 then is moved toward theleft, as indicated by arrow C, (FIG. 11) along the horizontal surface176 of a track 177. At the left hand end of the machine, the rollerrides onto a twisted cam surface 179 and is gradually turned back to the15 from vertical pear-receiving position as it is returned to thesubstantially straight portion 172 of the track. If desired, auxiliaryguide members 181 and 182 may be mounted at the left and right ends,respectively, of the track to assist the guiding of the cups around theends of the track. The track 170 is supported at a predeterminedelevation above the plate 142 by a plurality of brackets 183 which aresecured to the plate 142 and extend upwardly therefrom.

At the beginning of the feeding operation, the operator places the pearin the conveniently tilted, open cup (FIG. 13). As the cup is movedtoward the right, the roller 103 (FIG. 14) of the latch arm 100 ridesunder a cam plate 185 (FIG. 1'1) and is tripped thereby, permitting thespring 95 to close the movable jaws of the cup against the pear. As seenin FIG. 11, the inclined cam plate 185 is mounted on one wall of theU-shaped track portion 172.

After the pear has been impaled on a stemming tube (FIG. 16 the cup ismoved back to open, latched position by the engagement of the roller 92(FIG. 16) of the actuating arm 89 with an inclined surface 188 (FIG. 11)of a cam 189 that is mounted on a bracket 190. As previously mentioned,when the cup reaches its open position, the notch 104 of the latch armis spring urged into engagement with the peaked portion of the pin 105.Therefore, after the roller 92 passes out of engagement with the camsurface 188, the jaws remain in open position.

Referring to FIG. 3, it will be noted that the cylindrical base 130 hasthree support posts 200 which rest on a surface such as a floor. Anupright tubular member 201 is disposed concentrically of the base at thecenter thereof and is rigidly secured to the base by a plurality ofradially extending flanges 202. An apertured plate 203 is bolted acrossthe lower end of the tubular support member 201 and a main shaft 205 isbottomed on the plate 203 inside the stationary support member 201 towhich it may be secured by any suitable means as by bolts. A cylindricaldrum 206 is mounted in supported relation at the upper end of thestationary shaft 205. The drum has a central tubular member 207 and aplurality of radial webs 208 which connect the central tubular member207 to a base plate 209 and an outer wall 210. The drum is supported bythe stationary support shaft 205 and is keyed thereto so that the drumcannot rotate and, accordingly, it provides a suitable support forseveral stationary cams which control operating mechanisms of themachine, as will be explained presently.

In the present pear processing machine, the rotary turret 66 carriestwelve separate and complete processing units 67 which are schematicallyshown in FIG. 4. As the turret 66 rotates clockwise, each unit removes apear from a feed cup, firmly seats the pear on a stemming tube, peelsthe pear, and cuts off the stem end of the pear. By the time theseoperations are completed, the unit is disposed adjacent the dischargeturret 68 to which the pear is transferred.

The turret 66 (FIG. 3) comprises a tubular drive member 218, which isdisposed at the center of the machine around the stationary main shaft205. The member 218 is driven by a motor 220 through a belt and pulleydrive 221, a transmission unit 222, a drive shaft 223, a pinion 224(FIG. 5) on the shaft 223, and a gear 225 that is bolted to a plate 226(FIG. 3) which is welded to the drive member 218. Near its upper end thedrive member 218 is rigidly connected to an outer cylindrical drivemember 228 through a rigid, frusto-conical member 229. Thus, when themotor 220 is energized, the outer drive member 228 of the turret 66 iscontinuously rotated.

The outer cylindrical drive member 228 carries a plurality of verticalplates 230 (FIGS. 3 and 5) which are welded to the member 220 andproject radially outwardly therefrom. A circular angle bar 231a (FIG. 3)is rigidly secured around the upper, outermost edges of the plates 230,and a circular strap 231b is welded around the lower outermost edges ofthe plates 230. A horizontal upper sprocket ring 232 (FIGS. 3 and 4) issecured to the upper flange 231a, and a lower sprocket ring 233 (FIGS. 3and 5) is secured to the lower strap 2311). The sprocket rings 232 and233 engage the upper and lower rollers 122 and 123, respectively, of thecup carrier 71 to drive it in synchronism with the several processingunits 67 on the turret 66.

A framework 234 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is formed around the drum 206 by meansof a plurality of vertical tubular members 235 which are mounted inupright spaced position on the upper surface of the circular angle bar231a. A casting 236 (FIG. 19) is bolted on the upper end of each tubularmember 235, and the several castings 236 are connected together by atubular ring 237 which is bolted between spaced arms 238 and 239 of eachcasting. The castings 236 provide mounting means for mechanism of eachpear processing unit 67 and accordingly, one upstanding tubular member235 is disposed radially outwardly from each processing unit 67.

The twelve pear processing units 67 (FIGS. 4, 19, and 22) are identical,each unit comprising a vertical mounting plate 240 which is secured atits lower end to the outer drive member 228 of the turret by bolts 241.At the upper end of the mounting plate, a bolt 242 projects through theplate 240, and through a spacer sleeve 243 (FIG. 19) and is threaded ina hub plate 244 that is supported from the stationary main shaft 205 andmounted for rotation relative thereto. Each processing unit 67 includesa stemming tube 250 (FIG. 19) that has a pair of diametrically opposedfins 251. A stationary ejector rod 252 is disposed inside the stemmingtube 250 and is connected at its innermost end to a tab 253 (FIG. 3)that extends upward from the inner end of a bracket 254 that is securedto the mounting plate 240.

The stemming tube 250 carries a tubular end portion 255 (FIG. 20) thatis pressed on the tube 250 and is locked between a nut 257 and ashoulder 253 formed internally in a tubular drive member 259 on which abevel gear 260 is keyed. With this arrangement, the stemming tube 250 isrotated when the gear 260 is driven and, at the same time, the stemmingtube may he slid in and out of the mounting plate 240 which rotatablyjournals gear 260.

The stemming tube 250 is moved in a radial direction in the mountingplate 240 by means of a lever 26S (FIGS. 19 and 22) which has twosubstantially identical, spaced arm-s 266 and 267. Each arm has a hub268 mounted for pivoting movement on a short shaft 269 that projectsoutwardly from the casting 236. At its lower end, each lever arm 266 and267 has a forked end portion 271 (FIG. 19) that has arms disposed onopposite sides of a pin 272 (FIG. 22) which projects outwardly from eachside of a bearing block 273 (FIG. 23). The bearing block 273 is lockedon the tubular drive member 259 (FIG. 20) of the stemming tube 250 bymeans of snap rings 275. As the lever 265 is pivoted about the shortshaft 269, the forked ends of the lever move the stemming tube radiallyin or out of the mounting plate 240 of the turret.

The lever 265 is pivoted about shaft 269 by means of a cam followerroller 277 (FIG. 19) that is rotatably mounted on a bar 278 that issecured between the upper ends of the lever arms 266 and 267. The roller277 is disposed in a cam track 230 formed between two flanges 281 and282 which project downwardly from a horizontal plate 283. This plate 283is rigidly secured to a circular member 284 that is welded to theexterior surface of the stationary drum 206. As seen in dotted lines inFIG. 2, the cam track 280 is bent inwardly at a point approximatelydirectly opposite the longitudinal midpoint of the frame on which thecup carrier is mounted. As will be explained presently, when the camfollower 277 rides inwardly along this inwardly bent portion of thecamming track, the stemming tube is carried radially outwardly of themain turret to impale a pear in the feed cup.

Each stemming tube is rotated by a bevel gear 290 (FIG. 19') that is inmesh with the 'bevel gear 260 which is keyed in driving relation on thedrive member 259. The gear 290 is keyed to a vertical shaft 291 that isjournalled in a lower wall 292 of a box-like extension of the mountingplate 240. At its lower end, the shaft 291 carries a gear 293 which isarranged to move into contact with a stationary gear segment 294 (FIG.4) that partially encircles the main shaft 205. This gear segment 294 issecured to a plate 296 (FIG. 3) which projects horizontally from a hubof a stationary circular mounting member 297 that is keyed to thestationary main shaft 205. Accordingly, while the gear 293 is movedcontinuously with the turret in a circular path, it is rotated about itsown axis only during a portion of its movement in said circular path. Aswill be explained hereinafter, the pear is peeled while it is beingrotated on the stemming tube, and therefore the rotation of the stemmingtube corresponds in length to the peeling phase of the pear processingcycle.

Each gear 293 is brought into smooth engagement with the gear segment294 by means of a synchronizing block 300 (FIG. 24) that is secured tothe lower face of the gear 293. The block 300 has two recesses 301 and302 that open in opposite directions. A T-shaped locking bar 304 issecured to the bottom of the block 300. As the gear 293, which is beingcarried by the turret, approaches the entrance end of the gear segment,the recess 301 of the block 300 engages a pin 306 that is mounted inupright position on a bracket 307 (FIG. 24) secured to the stationarycircular mounting member 297. The pin 306 is so positioned relative tothe first tooth of the gear segment that the block 300 will be engagedand rotated to bring the teeth of the gear 293 into smooth meshingengagement with the teeth of the gear segment. It is to be noted thatthe locking bar 304 rotates with the gear 293 below the gear segment.

When the stemming tube 250 is not rotating, it must be held in a fixedposition with the fins 251 disposed in a substantially vertical plane sothat a forked butt clamp member, which will be described presently, canbe moved longitudinally along the stemming tube past the fins. Thestemming tube is held in this fixed position by means of the locking bar304. As the gear 2% moves out of engagement with the gear segment 294,the recess 302 of block 300 receives a pin, not shown, which issubstantially identical to pin 306 and is mounted on the extension 307of the circular mounting member 297. This contact of the pin with thewalls of the recess causes the locking bar 304 to be rotated so that itis moved smoothly into engagement with the outer peripheral edge 309 ofa plate 310 that projects outwardly form the circular mounting 297. Asseen in FIG. 4, the gear segment 294 extends around the stationary mainshaft 205 for about 226, while the locking plate 310 has an angularextent of about 134.

Just before a stemming tube is moved into a pear, it is necessary thatthe pear be pressed into the feed cup in which it is carried so that thenose of the pear will be centered in the cup and the stem-blossom axisof the pear will be aligned with the stemming tube. This pear centeringoperation is carried out by a butt stop lever 3-25 (FIGS. 19 and 22),which is a composite member comprising two parallel, juxtaposed members,an actuating bellcrank 326 (FIG. 19) and a pear-contacting butt stop arm327. The bellcrank 326 has a hub 328 rotatable on the short shaft 269which projects outwardly from the adjacent casting 236. One arm 329 ofthe bellcrank carries a roller 332 which rides in a cam groove 333provided by two spaced horizontal straps 334 and 335 that are secured toand project outwardly from a cylindrical support member 336 which issecured to the drum 206. At its lower end the bellcrank 326 carries aroller 338 which rides in an elongated opening 339 formed in the lowerend of the butt stop arm 327. At its lower end, the arm 32! has a forkedbutt stop 340 which has a slot 342 (FIG. 22), terminating in an enlargedrecess 343. The butt stop 340 is in alignment with the stemming tube250, which is adapted to pass through the enlarged recess 343. When thesternming tube is in its non-rotating, locked position with the fins 251disposed in a vertical plane, the uppermost fin is aligned with the slot34-2 and is adapted to pass therethrough.

The butt stop arm 327 has a forked upper end 346 (FIG. 19) whichreceives a roller 347 rotatably carried by the bellcrank- 326. Thus,when the bellcrank 326 is pivoted about shaft 269, the upper roller 347and the lower roller 333 carried by the bellcrank 326 cause the arm 327to swing with the bellcrank. In order that the butt stop 340 of the arm327 will move in a substantially straight line path as it pushes thepear, the arm 327 carries a roller 350 (FIG. 19) which projectslaterally into a camming groove 351 in a plate 352 secured to thecasting 236. As best seen in FIG. 19, the groove 351 has an ascendingand a descending portion designed to cause the butt stop 340 to move ina straight line path as it moves longitudinally along the stemming tube250. It will be understood that the camming groove 333, which actuatesthe butt stop bellcrank roller 332, has a configuration adapted to causethe butt stop to move radially inwardly or outwardly at predeterminedtimes in coordination with the movement of other operating mechanisms.

It will be evident from FIG. 19 that, when the roller 332 is moveddownwardly, the arm 327 is pivoted clockwise and the buttstop 340 ismoved to the left to engage a pear in a feed cup. At this point the pearis gripped by the jaws 77 and 78 and its stem end may be out of contactwith the tapered seat in the cup. The butt stop 340 en gages the pearand forces it inwardly in the cup causing the stem end of the pear toengage the seat of the cup and the pear to be centered. In FIG. 21, adownwardly inclined portion 333a of the groove 333 is illustrated. Asthe roller 332 travels down this inclined portion of the groove, thebutt stop 340 is moved into engagement with the pear. Near the lower endof the groove, the roller 332 contacts a shoe 352 which is formed on theend of a spring loaded bellcrank 353 which causes the pressure of thebutt stop 340 to be increased until the pear has been firmly seated.When the pear is seated, the bellcrank 353 will pivot clockwise andallow the roller 332 to pass thereunder, thus terminating the pressureof the butt stop of the pear. With this arrangement, the spring-loadedlever 353 assures the proper seating of the pear regardless of its size,and at the same time it prevents the application of excessive pressureto the pear.

At the time the stemming tube of each processing unit 67 withdraws apear from the feed cup, the pear is not fully-seated on the stemmingtube. Before the peeling operation can be started, the pear must befully seated on the tube and the butt end of the pear must be positionedat the particular location at which the cutter begins its peelingoperation. This seating and positioning of the pear is effected by meansof a nose stop 375 (FIGS. 19, 22 and 23) which is in the form of a barhaving a notch 376 at its outer end. At its inner end the bar is securedto a short shaft 377 (FIG. 23) projecting from the end of a tubularshaft 378 which is journalled for sliding and rotating movement in atubular bushing 379 fixed on a plate 380 that is arranged to be boltedto the mounting plate 240 of the associated processing unit. The bore ofthe bushing 379 is aligned with openings in the plates 240 and 380. Thetubular shaft 378 is moved back and forth in the bushing 379 by means ofa bellcrank 382 that has a slot 383 disposed at the lower end of one armand adapted to receive a pin 335 projecting from a collar 386. Thecollar is locked against axial movement on the shaft by snap rings 389,one only being shown. The bellcrank 382 has a hub 394 pivotally mountedon a stub shaft 395 (FIG. 22) projecting from the casting 236 at a pointbelow the shaft 269 on which the butt stop bellcrank 325 pivots. Theother arm 397 (FIG. 19) of the bellcrank 382 has a roller 398 mountedfor rotation thereon, said roller being disposed in a stationary cammingchannel 400 which is formed by two horizontal plates 4G1 and 402projecting from the exterior wall 216 of the drum 206. The stationarycamming channel 4% is so designed that, as the processing unit iscarried in a circular path, the bellcrank 382 is pivoted in a clockwisedirection (FIG. 23) causing the tubular shaft 378 to move radiallyinwardly. When the nose stop 375 has reached a predetermined radiallyinward position, a pin 404 (FIG. 23), that is carried by the stationarybushing 3'79 and is disposed in a camming slot 495 in the tubular shaft378, engages a slanted portion 4% of the slot, causing the shaft to berotated to swing the nose stop to a position wherein the notch 376 inthe nose stop is disposed around the stemming tube 250'. After the nosestop is in this pivoted position, the bellcrank 332 is pivoted furtherin the clockwise direction to cause the nose stop to engage the stem endof the pear and push it further onto the stemming tube which isstationary during this particular interval.

It is to be noted in FIG. 23 that the tubular nose stop shaft 378 has alaterally extending yoke 415 secured to its radially inner end. A roller416, that has three peripheral rings of V-shaped cross section, isrotatable in the yoke. When the nose stop bar 375 is swung up to aposition of alignment with the stemming tube, the yoke 415 and theroller 415 are also swung upwardly to a position wherein the upperV-shaped edges of the rings on the roller are at the same level as aplurality of elongated V-shaped grooves 420 (FIG. 19) formed on thelower surface of a locking plate 421 that has a hub 422 (FIG. 3) securedby setscrews to the stationary main shaft 295. As seen in FIG. 4, thelocking plate 421 is not completely circular but has an angular extentof about 238. FIG. 19 is a view taken at the turret position at whichimpaling of the pear is begun and at this position the nose stop has notyet been moved radially inwardly. Since the locking plate 421 does notbegin until approximately 48 after the impaling station, it is evidentthat upward swing movement of the roller in FIG. 19 would not bring theroller 416 into contact with the V-shaped notches 420 of the lockingplate. However, it will be understood that in each processing unit 67the roller 416 is raised to a predetermined position as the nose stop isaligned with the stemming tube, and then it is moved radially inwardly,as the nose stop seats the pear, until it is in a radially innerposition such that further rotation of the turret will move the threadsof the roller 416 into engagement with the V- shaped grooves 420 in thelocking plate. When the roller 416 is engaged with the plate in thismanner, the nose stop is locked against further radial movement untilthe subsequent peeling and stem cut-off operations are completed.

When the pear has been fully seated on the stemming tube by the inwardpushing movement of the nose stop, the butt of the pear comes intocontact with the butt stop which has been previously withdrawn to apredetermined radially inward position. At the time that the butt of thepear hits the butt stop, the processing unit has been rotatedapproximately 35 from the fruit impaling station to a station which willbe called the pear positioning station since at this position the buttend of each pear, regardless of the length of the pear, will bepositioned at the same predetermined radially inward position at whichthe peeling cutter begins the peeling operation.

As previously mentioned, the remaining mechanisms of the machine are notpart of the present invention but are fully disclosed in our pendingapplication Serial No. 625,368, now Patent No. 2,979,093.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that the presentinvention provides a novel efficient fruit orienting, centering andfeeding mechanism. The mechanism presents the feed cups to the operatorat a predetertermined, advantageous, inclined angle to the vertical topermit the feeding of the pears to be carried out with a minimum offatigue to the operator. The use of a butt stop to push the pear downinto the tapered fruit-receiving 10 chamber of each feed cup assures theaccurate aligning of the pear with the impaling tube and minimizeslosses due to improperly positioned pears.

While a preferred apparatus for carrying out the invention has beenshown and described, it will be understood that it is capable ofmodification and variation while still employing the principles of theinvention. It is to be understood, therefore, that the scope of theinvention should be limited only by the scope and proper interpretationof the claims appended thereto.

Having thus described the invention, that which is believed to be newand for which protection by Letters Patent is desired is:

1. In a fruit preparation machine, a support member; cam means mountedon said support member; and a plurality of fruit feed cups mounted onsaid support member for movement along a predetermined path, each feedcup comprising a rigid body portion mounted on said support member, apair of jaws pivotally mounted on said body portion, meansinterconnecting said jaws for simultaneous pivoting movement, a camfollower operatively connected to one of said jaws and disposed inengagement with said cam means for pivoting said jaws at predeterminedpoints along the path of movement of said cups, a latch detent on one ofsaid jaws, a latching arm pivotally mounted on said cup body portion,means defining a latching recess on said arm, and spring means connectedbetween said arm and said body portion to urge said arm in a directionto move said recess into engagement with said latch detent as said jawsare pivoted to an open position.

2. In a fruit preparation machine, the combination of a support member;cam means mounted on said support member; and a feed cup comprising arigid body portion mounted on said support member for movement along apredetermined path and for pivotal movement relative to said supportmember, a pair of opposed jaws pivotally mounted on said body portionfor movement between open and closed positions, means interconnectingsaid jaws for simultaneous pivoting movement, a first cam followeroperatively connected to one of said jaws and disposed in engagementwith said cam means for pivoting said jaws between open and closedpositions during movement of said cup along said path, a second camfollower connected to said body portion and disposed in engagement withsaid cam means to effect pivoting of said cup from an upwardly openingfruit receiving position to a horizontally opening fruit dischargeposition, releasably interengaging latch members respectively on saidbody portion and on one of said jaws for releasably holding said jaws inopen position, and means on said support member engageable with one ofsaid latch members during movement of said cup from receiving todischarging position to disengage said latch members and allow said jawsto move to closed position.

3. In a fruit preparation machine, the combination of a support member;a feed cup mounted on said support member for movement along apredetermined path, said cup comprising a rigid body portion pivotallymounted on said support member, a pair of opposed jaws pivotally mountedon said body portion, spring means urging said jaws to closed position,a cam follower on one of said jaws, a latch detent on one of said jaws,a latching lever pivotally mounted on said body portion and providing alatching recess, a cam follower on said latching lever, a springconnected between said body portion and said latching lever and arrangedto pivot said lever in a direction to move said recess into engagementwith said detent, a cam follower on said rigid cup body portion; and cammeans mounted on said support member and having a plurality of cammingsurfaces, each camming surface being arranged to be engaged by aparticular one of said cam followers, said camming surfaces beingconstructed and arranged to consecutively pivot said jaws to openposition against the action of said spring means, pivot said cup to a 11position wherein the axis of the cup is inclined slightly from thevertical, pivot said latching lever in a direction to unlatch said jawspermitting the jaws to close about a pear in the cup, and pivot said cupto a position with the axis of the cup in a generally horizontalposition.

4. In a fruit preparation machine, a feed cup adapted to hold a peartherein, means mounting said cup for movement in a fixed path, a rotaryturret adjacent said cup mounting means, a pusher lever pivotallymounted on said turret, means for moving said feed cup and said turretin timed relation to bring said cup into confronting relation adjacentone end of said lever, a stationary support adjacent said turret, a camtrack on said stationary support, a cam follower on said lever anddisposed in said cam track, said cam track having a camming surfaceconstructed and arranged to pivot said lever when said lever end andsaid cup are in confronting position and move said lever end intopushing engagement with a pear in the cup, and means providing aspring-loaded movable section in said camrning surface arranged to yieldand stop the pivoting movement of said lever when the pear resists thepushing movement of said lever with a predetermined force.

5. In a fruit preparation machine, a pair of elongated spaced platesdefining a frame, a pair of circular plates mounted for rotation at eachend of said frame, each plate having a peripheral edge projecting beyondthe associated end of the frame, an endless chain carrier disposedaround said frame and including a plurality of parallel pins, rollersrotatably mounted on said pins and arranged to engage the peripheraledges of said circular plates as said pins are moved around the ends ofsaid frame, a plurality of fruit carriers mounted on said endless chaincarrier, each fruit carrier being mounted on one of said pins, and meansconnected between said endless chain carrier and each fruit carrier formaintaining each fruit carrier in a predetermined orientation relativeto'said endless chain carrier.

6. In a fruit preparation machine, a rigid support frame; an endlesschain carrier disposed in guided and supported relation on said frame,said carrier including a plurality of parallel pins and plates pivotallyconnecting adjacent pins; and a plurality of fruit carriers mounted onsaid endless chain carrier, each fruit carrier including a cup supportmember mounted on one of said pins and a yoke rigidly attached to saidcup support member and pivotally mounted on a pin disposed ahead of saidone pin in the direction of movement of the endless chain carrier.

7. In a fruit preparation machine, a feed cup adapted to hold fruittherein, means mounting said cup for movement in a fixed path about apredetermined first axis with said cup opening outward of said path, arotary turret mounted for rotation about a second axis substantially'parallel to said first axis, a pusher lever pivotally mounted on saidturret for movement about a third axis normal to said second axis, meansconnected to said feed cup mounting means and to said turret for movingsaid cup and said lever in timed relation to bring said lever intoconfronting relation to said cup during a predetermined portion ofmovement of said cup in its path, a support mounted in fixed positionrelative to and adjacent said turret, a cam track on said support, and acam follower on said lever and disposed in said track, said track havinga camming surface for ivoting said lever when said lever and cup are inconfronting relation to move said lever toward said cup into pushingengagement with fruit in said cup.

8. In a fruit preparation machine, a feed cup adapted to hold a fruittherein, means mounting said cup for movement in a predetermined path, arotary turret adjacent to said cup mounting means, a pusher lever havinga fruit engaging end portion and being mounted on said turret, means formoving said feed cup and said turret in timed relation to bring said cupinto confronting relation adjacent said fruit engaging end portion ofsaid lever, a support mounted in fixed relation to said turret andadjacent thereto, a cam track on said support, a cam follower on saidlever and engaging said track, said track having a camrning surface formoving said fruit engaging end portion toward said cup when said endportion and said cup are in confronting relation, and means providing aspring-loaded movable section in said camming surface for limitingmovement of said fruit engaging end portion toward said cup.

9. In a fruit preparation machine, a support, a feed cup circumscribinga fruit receiving opening, means on said support mounting said cup formovement about an upright axis and through a fruit pressing stationwherein said opening is directed radially outward from said axis, aturret, means mounting said turret on said support for rotation about aturret axis substantially parallel to said upright axis, a pusher leverhaving angularly related cam engaging and fruit engaging portions, meansmounting said lever intermediate said portions thereof for pivotalmovement about an axis tangent to a circle concentric with said turret,means synchronously motivating said turret and said cup mounting meansfor positioning said fruit engaging portion of said lever in confrontingrelation to said cup opening during movement thereof through saidpressing station, and means on said support contacting said cam engagingportion of said lever for moving said fruit engaging portion toward saidreceiving opening when said lever is in said confronting relation.

10. In a fruit preparation machine, a support, a feed cup circumscribinga fruit receiving opening, means on said support mounting said cup formovement about an upright axis and through a fruit pressing stationwherein said opening is directed radially outward from said axis, aturret, means mounting said turret on said support for rotation about aturret axis substantially parallel to said upright axis, a pusher leverhaving angularly related cam engaging and fruit engaging portions, meansmounting said lever intermediate said portions thereof for pivotalmovement about an axis tangent to a circle concentric with said turret,means synchronously motivating said turret and cup mounting means forpositioning said fruit engaging portion of said lever in confrontingrelation to said cup opening during movement thereof through saidpressing station, and yieldable means on said support in contact withsaid cam engaging portion of said lever for yieldably urging said fruitengaging portion toward said receiving opening when said lever is insaid confronting relation.

11. In a fruit preparation machine, a support, a feed cup circumscribinga fruit receiving opening, means on said support mounting said cup formovement about an upright axis and through a fruit pressing stationwherein said opening is directed radially outward from said axis, aturret, means mounting said turret on said support for rotation about aturret axis substantially parallel to said upright axis, a pusher leverhaving angularly related cam engaging and fruit engaging portions, meansmounting said lever intermediate said portions thereof for pivotalmovement about an axis tangent to a circle concentric with said turret,means synchronously motivating said turret and cup mounting means forpositioning said fruit engaging portion of said lever in confrontingrelation to said cup opening during movement thereof through saidpressing station, said fruit engaging portion having a slot disposed ina plane normal to the pivot axis of said lever, and a stemming tubemounted in said turret and having an axis projecting through said slotwhereby said tube is adapted to project through said slot upon relativemovement of said tube and said lever toward each other.

12. In a fruit preparation machine, a support member; cam means mountedon said support member; and a fruit feed cup comprising a rigid bodyportion mounted on said support member for movement along apredetermined path, jaws pivotally mounted on said body portion, meansinterconnecting said jaws for simultaneous pivoting movement, a camfollower operatively connected to one of said jaws and disposed inengagement with said cam means for pivoting said jaws during movement ofsaid cup along said path, a first latch member on one of said jaws, asecond iatch member pivotally mounted on said body portion, said latchmembers having releasably engaging portions, and resilient meansconnected to said second latch member and to said body portion forurging said second latch member in a direction to move said latchengaging portions into engagement as said jaws are pivoted to openposition.

13. In a fruit preparation machine, a support, a cup holding member,means mounting said holding member on said support for movement of saidholding member in a circuitous path about a substantially upright axis,a cup having a fruit receiving opening and being supported in saidholding member for pivotal movement about a cup axis substantiallyaligned with said path, said cup including jaws mounted for pivotalmovement toward and away from each other, first cam means on saidsupport and said cup for pivoting said cup about said cup axis betweenfrnit receiving and discharging positions during movement of saidholding member along said path, and second cam means on said support andconnected to said jaws for moving said jaws toward and away from eachother during travel of said holding member along said path thereby tohold fruit received in said cup in its receiving position and to releasesuch fruit when said cup is in its discharging position.

14. In a fruit preparation machine, a support, a cup holding member,means mounting said holding member on said support for movement of saidholding member in a circuitous path about a substantially upright axis,a cup having a fruit receiving opening and being supported in saidholding member for pivotal movement about a cup axis substantiallyaligned with said path, first cam means on said support and said cup forpivoting said cup about said cup axis during movement of said holdingmember along said path, and means interconnecting said holding memberand the mounting means for said holding member for maintaining said cupaXis in substantial alignment with said path.

15. In a fruit preparation machine, a support frame; an endless chaincarrier disposed in guided and supported relation on said frame, saidcarried including a plurality of substantially parallel pins and meanspivotally interconnecting said pins in spaced relation circumferentiallyof said carrier; and a fruit carrier including a cup support membermounted on one of said pins and a rigid orienting member connected tosaid cup support member and substantially radially projecting from thepin on which said support member is mounted, and means interconnectingsaid orienting member and a pin adjacent to said one pin for maintainingsaid fruit carrier in a predetermined orientation relative to said chaincarrier.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,468,255 Dunn Apr. 26, 1949 2,642,212 Currivan June 16, 1953 2,761,549Smith Sept. 4, 1956 2,786,562 McClelland Mar. 26, 1957 2,953,236 BuchnerSept. 20, 1960

1. IN A FRUIT PREPARATION MACHINE, A SUPPORT MEMBER CAM MEANS MOUNTED ONSAID SUPPORT MEMBER; AND A PLURALITY OF FRUIT FEED CUPS MOUNTED ON SAIDSUPPORT MEMBER FOR MOVEMENT ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH, EACH FEED CUPCOMPRISING A RIGID BODY PORTION MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, A PAIROF JAWS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID BODY PORION, MEANS INTERCONNECTINGSAID JAWS FOR SIMULTANEOUS PIVOTING MOVEMENT, A CAM FOLLOWER OPERATIVELYCONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID JAWS AND DISPOSED IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CAMMEANS FOR PIVOTING SAID JAWS AT PREDETERMINED POINTS ALONG THE PATH OFMOVEMENT OF SAID CUPS, A LATCH DETENT ON ONE OF SAID JAWS, A LATCHINGARM PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID CUP BODY PORTION, MEANS DEFINING ALATCHING RECESS ON SAID ARM, AND SPRING MEANS CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID